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never found him in bed. He used to say, "I never have any difficulties; a thing either can be done, or it cannot. If it can be done, I may as well do it as another, if I will take equal pains; if it cannot be done, I will not attempt to do it."

There was also a school-boy who ought not to be forgotten. While others were at play, he was engaged in mechanical contrivances, either imitating something he had seen, or carrying out a plan of his own. For this purpose he provided himself with little saws, hatchets, hammers, and all sorts of tools, which he learned to use with great dexterity. A windmill was being erected not far from where he lived, and he so often and attentively observed the workmen, that he became acquainted with all its machinery. He now tried to make a model of it, which was frequently placed on the top of the house, and was put in motion by the action of the wind upon its sails. Not content with thus imitating the windmill, he formed the idea of driving his model by animal power, and for this purpose he shut up in it a mouse, which he called the miller, and which was made to give motion to the

machine. Some say the mouse was made to advance, by pulling a string attached to its tail; while others allege that its power was called forth by its unavailing attempts to reach a portion of corn placed above the wheel.

Another machine of his was a waterclock, made out of a box he had obtained from a friend; it was about four feet high, and somewhat like a common house-clock. The hand of the dial-plate was turned by a piece of wood, which either rose or fell by the action of dropping water. As it stood in his own bedroom he supplied it every morning with the water it required, and it was used as a clock by the family. If, however, he thus occupied himself, and scarcely ever joined in the common games of his schoolfellows, he found great pleasure in improving their amusements. He taught them first how to fly paper kites, and took great pains in determining their best shapes and sizes, and the place and number of the points by which the string should be fastened. Nor was he less attentive to his young female friends; it was one of his most agreeable occupations to construct for them little

tables and cupboards, and other utensils for holding their dolls and their trinkets.

Throughout his future life, "Try" was his motto, and what was the consequence? That schoolboy became Sir Isaac Newton, whose "achievements," it has been said, "carry him forward on the stream of time with a reputation ever gathering, and the trumpet of a distinction that will never die."

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GOOD TEMPER.

'Tis not enough to do the thing
That we are charged to do;
The way in which the thing is done
Should still be kept in view.

It may be done with scowling looks,
And words of discontent;

Or show, though done quite silently,
It was not kindly meant.

But when I see a parent's will,

Or friend's, obeyed with pleasure,

I say, "The spirit of that child
Will prove to it a treasure."

While every time a child gives way
To tempers cross and sour,

It drives all pleasure from its breast,
And gives them greater power."

AN interesting account is given us of the effect of training the elephant. These animals are stalled at the foot of some large tree, which shelters them during the day from the

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extreme heat of the sun.

They stand under this tree, and to it they are chained by their

hind legs.

Early in the morning the keeper makes his appearance from his hovel, and throws the keys down to the elephants, who immediately unlock the padlocks of the chains, loose themselves, and, says the narrator, "in the politest manner return the keys to the keeper." They then proceed with him to the nearest forest, and as soon as they arrive there, begin breaking down the branches of the trees, choosing those that are the most agreeable to their taste, and arranging them in two large fagots. When they have collected as much as they think they require, they make withes, and bind up their two fagots, and then twist another to connect the two, so that they may hang over their backs, one on each side; and having thus made their provision, they return home. The keeper may or may not be present during this time; all depends on whether the elephants are welltrained, or have been long in servitude. On their return, the elephants pass the chains round their legs, lock the padlock, and present the key as before.

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